BACKGROUND: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the Incentive Spirometry (IS) and Deep Breathing Exercises (DBE) to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery in patients over 60 years of age. METHODS: We prospectively randomized 90 patients into 1 of 3 groups: the control group (30 patients) received no respiratory treatment, the IS group (30 patients) was treated with incentive spirometry 4 times daily and DBE group (30 patients) carried out deep breathing exercises under supervision for 15 min 4 times daily. ABGA was taken at ward, PR (preop.room), RR (recovery room), POD1 day and POD2 day. Roentgenographic changes observed at 24 h. and 48 h. after surgery. Pulmonary complications were defined as the development of 3 or more of 6 new findings: cough, sputum, dyspnea, chest discomfort, temperature greater than 38oC, pulse rate more than 100 beats/min. RESULTS: PaO2 in the DBE group and IS group at PR were significantly increased than the values at ward, and the values of the PaO2 in the DBE group at RR and POD1 day, and those of IS group at PR and POD2 day were significant higher than those of the control group (p<0.05). The frequency of development of pulmonary complications (43.3% in the control group, 20% in the DBE group, 20% in the IS group) and roentgenographic changes were comparable in the 3 groups (26.7%, 16.7%, 20% respectively). The DBE group showed the different incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications between upper and lower abdominal surgery (upper: lower= 35.7: 6.3%). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that DBE and IS were effective in preventing postoperative pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery and lower abdominal surgery causes lesser postoperative pulmonary complications than upper abdominal surgery.
Breathing Exercises ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Motivation* ; Organization and Administration ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration* ; Spirometry* ; Sputum ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Humans ; Prostate* ; Urinary Retention*

Although several histopathological changes have been developed in frozen shoulder, frozen shoulder is mostly accompanied by the changes of the rotator cuff which has the most important function in movement and has a role in stabilizing the shoulder joint. The changes of the rotator cuff in frozen shoulder have not been reported in Korea yet, but Simon reported that there was an attenuation of the rotator cuff in frozn shoulder. Accordingly, we observed the changes of the rotator cuff in frozen shoulder by ultrasonography, which has no rsdiation exposure and is non-invasive. The authors practiced the shoulder ultrasonography on 36 patients with a pain and limitation of motion in shoulder at the Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, from March in 1988 to August in 1988. The results are as follows ;1) Ultrasonography is thought to contribute a great deal in detection of the changes of the rotator cuff, especially of the thickness of the rotstor cuff. 2) Among 36 patients, the thickness of the rotator cuff of 35 patients was 6.494+1.008 mm (M+SD) in the affected shoulder and 6.475+1.052 mm(M+SD) in the unaffected shoulder. In only one pstient, the thickness of the rotator cuff was 1.68+0.58 mm(M+SD) in the affected shoulder and 553+1.16mm(M+SD) in the unaffected shoulder. Theres no significant change in the thickness of the rotator cuff measured by ultrasonography in frozen shoulder. 3) Ultrasonography is an excellent diagnostic method in detecting the rupture of the rotator cuff in frozen shoulder.
Bursitis ; Heart ; Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Rotator Cuff ; Rupture ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint ; Ultrasonography

Actinomycosis is an indolent, suppurative infection caused by an anaerobic gram-positive organism (usually actinomyces israelii) which usually causes infection in the face, mediastitum, lung, and abdomen. Primary esophageal actinomycosis which is not related with pulmonary or mediastinal actinomycosis, is very rare, especially in immunocompetent host. A 58-year-old woman has been suffered from dysphagia, odynophagia, and chest pain after insertion of esophageal stent in esophageal acid stricture. She underwent a esophagectomy with esophagogastrostomy for above mentioned symptoms. Pathologic diagnosis was a esophageal actinomycosis.
Abdomen ; Actinomyces ; Actinomycosis* ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Stents*

Prolapse of bladder through vesico-vaginal fistula is quite a rare urological problem. A 38-year-old woman was admitted to the Woo Sok University Hospital with a baby head sized round mass attached to the vagina. Patient had a prolapse of uterus after having her second child birth about 10 years ago and cauterization with corrosives for the treatment of prolapse of uterus was undergone for two times. About one year prior to the admission, the prolapse of uterus recurred and cauterization with corrosives was tried again, resulting vesico-vaginal fistula through which the bladder was everted and prolapsed. Under the general anesthesia, the everted and prolapsed bladder was reduced manually in normal position and vesico-vaginal fistulectomy was performed with good result.
Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Caustics ; Cautery ; Child ; Female ; Fistula* ; Head ; Humans ; Parturition ; Prolapse* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Uterus ; Vagina ; Vesicovaginal Fistula

BACKGROUND: Superoxide disrnutase(SOD) provides a protective defease mechanism against potential cytotoxicity of superoxide radical in the aerobic organism. Although human skin is constantly at risk for developing acute and chronic changes by ultraviolet radiation and phototoxic reactions with exogenous and endogenously procluced photosensitizing molecules, studies in SOD in the human skin are rare. OBJECTIVE: We measured the level of SOD activities in the scar tissues and the normal human skin specimens. This study was to investigate changes of SOD activity by age, sex, and regional differences of SOD activities in the scar issues and the normal skin. METHODS: Aut,hors assayed the level of SOD activit,ies in 32 scar tissues(male 8, female 24) and 11 normal human skin specimens(male 8, female 3), which were obtaine 3 from face/neck(17 and 3 specimens), forearm(only 4 scar tissues), trunk(10 and 8 specimens), and lower extremity(only 1 scar tissue). RESULTS: First, activities of total SOD, Cu, Zn-SOD, and Mn-SOL ere 18.93+5.49, 16.97+55.31, and 1.96+0.90 units/mg proteiii respectively in the scar tissues. Second activities of total SOD, Cu, Zn-SOD, and Mn-SOD were 17.27+7.09, 13.82+6.44, and 3.45+1.07 units/mg protein respectively in the normal skin. Third, the changes of total SOD, Cu, Zn-SOD, and Mn-SOD activities by age and sex were similar each other and three were no significant, differneces between age groups in total, Cu, Zn- SOD, and Mn-SOD activities. Fourth, in sun exposed area and unexposed area there were no significant differences in the scar tissues in SOD activities. But, SOD activite.(total, Cu, Zn, and Mn-SOD) in face/neck were higher than those in trunk and lower extremity in tae normal skin(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that there are no differences in the intrinsic SOD activities by age and sex in the mature scar tissues and the normal skin. Differences between exposed and unexposed area in the normal skin are due to the induction of exogenous SOD activity by sun-light generation of superoxide radicals. In wound, increased production of leukocyte derived superoxide radicals is the main factor of increased level of SOD activity.
Cicatrix* ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Lower Extremity ; Skin ; Solar System ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides* ; Wounds and Injuries

Direct immunofluorescent (DIF) starining was performed on biopsy specimens from four patients with pityraasis lichenoides chronica. Deposits of IgM and C3 were foundin the dermal vessel walls of the lesional skin in two patients with pityriasis lichenoides chronic. Deposition of C3 and cytoid bodies were detected along the dermo-epidermal junction in one patient. This supports the view that deposition of immune complexes may play a part in the pathogenesis of pityriasis lichenoides chronica.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Pityriasis Lichenoides ; Skin ; Vasculitis*

Urethral stricture usually follows the urethral rupture and periodical urethral soundation, which is an annoying procedure for. patients, is the usual method of treatment throughout their life. A case of urethral stricture who was successfully treated with modified Cecil's Operation, is presented.
Humans ; Rupture ; Urethral Stricture*

Previous studies implied association of osteoporosis with estrogen deficiency, immobilization and low calcium absorption only through epidemiological studies. There have been only a few experimental studies verifying the etiologic factors of osteoporosis in vivo condition. Authors conducted an experimental study using white rats(Sprague Dawley) in order to find out what the endocrinological and biochemical changes of experimentally induced osteoporosis are and how they behave with or against each other. White rats, eighty five in number of 3 to 6 months females and weighing 220±12.7gm were divided into four groups. They consisted of Group I(n=10) for control, Group II(n=25) for bilateral oophorectomy, Group III(n=25) for bilateral division of sciatic nerve and hip spica cast immobilization, and Group IV(n=25) for bilateral oophorectomy and bilateral division of sciatic nerve plus hip spica cast immobilization. Blood samples were taken preoperatively and postoperatively at six weeks to check Estradiol and Osteocalcin levels there of. And then, rats were sacrified immediately after the second sampling to retrieve femora for bone mineral density measurement and torsional stress test. Estradiol levels before operation were 21.4±13.3pg/ml for Group I, 31.6±3.1pg/ml for Group II, 25.6±4.5pg/ml for Group III and 33.7±4.5pg/ml for Group IV, respectively. There were no significant differences observable among the groups. Estradiol levels at six weeks postoperatively were 42.3±18.8pg/ml for Group I, 5.4±2.7pg/ml for Group II, 40.8±5pg/ml for Group III and 6.2±2.3 pg/ml for Group IV, respectively. Apparent reductions in group II and IV were proved of statistical significance. Osteocalcin levels preoperatively were 1.2±0.6ng/ml for Group I, 1.7±0.4ng/ml for Group II, 1.5±0.1lng/ml for Group III and 1.5±0.1.lng/ml for Group IV, respectively. At six weeks postoperatively they were 1.6±0.1lng/ml for Group I, 1.7±0.3ng/ml for Group II, 1.8±0.3ng/ml for Group III and 1.2±0.1lng/ml for Group IV, respectively. The differences and changes among the groups and measurements were not of statistical significance. Bone mineral contents at six weeks postoperatively were 0.248±0.03g for Group I, 0.177±0.03g for Group II, 0.226±0.04g for Group III and 0.092±0.01g in Group IV, respectively. Low values of Group II and IV compared to those of Group I and III were of statistical significance.(P=0.0001) Torsional strength of bones at six weeks postoperatively were 4.0±0.2N/m for Group I, 1.5±0.1N/m for Group II, 1.5±0.1N/m for Group III and 1.4±0.1N/m for Group IV, respectively. Decreases of experimental groups(II, III, IV) compared to that of control group(I) were of statistical significance, but differences among the experimental groups were not of significance(p>0.05). For above observations, it was possible to conclude that osteoporosis measurable by bone mineral content and torsional stress test was caused by oophorectomy and immobilization in vivo, the former of which was more rapid and profound than the latter during early phase. When both factors, i.e., oophorectomy and immobilization are exerated simultaneously. the resultant osteoporosis was found in higher degree than either factor only, but not at incremental degree as one may expect.
Absorption ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Estradiol ; Estrogens ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Osteocalcin ; Osteoporosis ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Sciatic Nerve

Plaster of Paris is an effective ancillary treatment in the surgery of infected cavities in bone. It is well tolerated and spontaneously absorbed over the period of weeks to months, being replaced by bone of normal architecture. When the antibiotics incorporated into plaster of Paris, the antibiotics are capable of prolonged local release in bactericidal concentrations. Therefore it is proposed that antibiotics loaded plaster of Paris might be a simple adjuvant technique after good surgical debridement for the treatment of bone infection. The authors carried out an experiment to study the effect of plaster of Paris containing antibiotics for a prevention of experimental osteomyelitis, using 45 rats, which were divided into 3 groups. In the Group 1, a defect was made at the proximal metaphysis of the tibia, inoculated by Staphylococcus aureus sensitive to Cephradine and Tobramycin and then filled with plaster of Paris pellet. In the Group 2, a defect was filled with Cephradine loaded plaster of Paris pellet. In the Group 3, a defect was filled with Tobramycin loaded plaster of Paris pellet. Then we observed the healing process of the bone defect in the point of view of the gross findings, radiologic findings and histologic findings at 4th, 8th and 12th week after operation. The results of this study were as follows:l. In the control Group;all 30 cases were infected. 2. In the Group 2;only 4 of 30 cases were infected. 3. In the Group 3;all 30 cases were not infected. 4. The plaster of Paris filled into the defect was absorbed continuously and stimulated the new bone formation.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Calcium Sulfate ; Cephradine ; Debridement ; Osteogenesis ; Osteomyelitis ; Rats ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Tibia ; Tobramycin